Andrew Chow

Vancouver, Canada

A Canadian citizen who shares American concerns for world peace and lasting shared prosperity.

http://fastnews123.blogspot.com

Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

We're Talking About People, Not Money

I agree with you 100%, Lara.

The problem is not the people; the problem is the system that created homeless people - whatever the cause of their homelessness, from high rent combined with low wages, unemployment, mortgage foreclosure, addiction, mental illness, health cost, etc.

Herding people into concentration camp facilities is a band-aid solution that leaves a legacy of other problems for future generations. We need to implement real fixes to a society that value people less, and money more.
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Homeless Living In Storage Units

Kyle, from your phone number, I searched google for homeless shelters and there are a couple in your area. http://www.google.ca/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_enCA291CA303&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=homeless+shelters,+mckean,+penn

With a job, it's just a matter of time before you find your own place. I don't know your situation, but is it possible for you to store your stuff temporarily in a storage locker and stay overnight at say, St. James Haven until you are back on your feet. http://www.ssjerie.org/stjames_haven.htm

I hope you find someone nearby who can help. Also, have you talked to your coworkers and manager? McDonalds may have programs to help employees in distress. Please reach out to as many people as you can, but NOT your ex-girl friend. I am sure there is someone in McKean county who can help you.

I cannot emphasize enough that you must stay away from your ex-girl friend, and drugs. Congratulations on your six-month sobriety! That's considerable achievement, especially if you did it on your own without sponsors or support. That's really awesome!
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

The Case for Charter Schools, Part Three

Thanks for a clear and cogent analysis, Sharon.

It appears to me that the object is against "autocratic" insensitive outsiders dictating the terms of a school's operation. I agree that schools form an important part of a community, and should take into account community consensus.

Having said that, I believe "autocratic" public schools are equally undesirable, when powerful lobby groups or politicians drive their own educational agenda through the school boards, regardless of community desires and needs. Many public schools fell into disruptive experiments because certain groups decide certain teaching models are better and others, or certain curriculum is better than other.

What matters, ultimately, is the impact on the students. It is why student and parent participation in the school's operation is of the utmost importance.
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

The Case for Charter Schools, Part One

If a particular school, as in the one you mentioned the students boasted about no bullies, has achieved outstanding results, then it is natural for the students and parents and all involved to take pride in their accomplishment and boast the school is "superior". It is like Canadians and Americans keep saying their country is the best in the world. It is meaningless propaganda without concrete statistics in specific context. Parents should discourage their children making these kind of generic unsubstantiated statements, but unfortunately the parents themselves are often guilty.

It is understandable when they feel proud of their children's accomplishments. It does NOT lead to healthy dialog to find innovative solutions to improve the existing public system.

For example, bullying. What were the reasons that students in that particular charter school found no bullying? What steps were taken to prevent or to correct bullies? The same process can be applied to public schools. It is wrong of charter schools to be boastful and denigrate public schools, but it is equally wrong for public school proponents to fall for the victim mentality and overreact to these boasts, especially when there ain't none.

Thanks for your clarification, Caroline. I look forward to further discussion to understand the various education models.
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

The Case for Charter Schools, Part One

Caroline, if you read your last paragraph again, you will see that you fall back to your polarizing position, by inserting the word "superior" into the position of those who favor charter school because it works and not because they are superior to public schools. You make this generic label "superior" the red flag that put you into battle mode.

Just because a single charter school happens to work best with a particular community, it does NOT make the charter school model "superior" to the public school model. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find ANY two public schools that are operating identifically in everyway. In other words, you are over simplifying the argument by assuming that charter schools and public schools are two homogenous clumps that can be compared. It was wrong when the California Charter School Movement that caused you so much grief did it. It is equally wrong when you do it ad infinitum when others have already stated their position against it. I have repeatedly stated that I do not subscribed to simplistic labeling. To accuse me of it is simply disingeneous.

If you are trying to win friends for the public school system, I think you will do better with honey than with vinegar.

I look forward to your blog.
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Barriers to Affordable Housing

All the market forces are conspired to raise prices and rents with nothing keeping them down. At the same time, all the market forces are conspired to keep wages down, except the executive salaries and bonuses, and the highly skilled, hard to find talents who can market themselves. For the rest of us, we live by the grace of those in power. And we have seen what the power brokers do....all for themselves. The few good people don't have the support they need to make changes. President Obama tried to change Washington and Wall Street. It's not happening because those in power don't want to lose it.
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Will Tiny Houses Provide Shelter from the Economic Storm?

As I said, I agree about the toilets and showers, and it shouldn't cost more than $1500 to add that to the plans. As discussed earlier above, clustering these tiny house together will help to minimize the plumbing needed.

I agree that these "temporary shelters" may become home for a few months. It's not difficult for anyone to personalize it with posters, and other decorations easily so they wish. They can even paint it. You can't do that with a hotel room, or a tent.

Personally, I see this solution as a great idea that needs to be acted on.
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

Will Tiny Houses Provide Shelter from the Economic Storm?

I am aware of human nature to make their homes more user friendly, more personalized. And the tiny homes are not adverse to that. You would be amazed at the amount of personalization students can do to their tiny dormitory rooms.

I agree with the need for toilet facilities, and if you retrace the discussion, I was understand the assumption that the tiny houses have them. If they do not, then it is not difficult to add that, at the cost of at most, doubling from $1500 to $3000 per tiny house.

None of these issues are deal-breakers for making these houses successful helping newly unemployed and newly foreclosed people and families to get a breathing space before finding a more permanent solution.

By the way, nobody seriously personalize their hotel rooms or any other temporary spaces. I agree that it will help small children feel more comfortable, but most adults will want to focus their energy on moving out of those tiny houses, not staying in them. These are NOT for longer term homeless cases.
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

The Case for Charter Schools, Part One

Caroline, you are polarizing the issue by making anyone who supports the idea of charter schools an enemy of public schools, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT.
You have decided that any support for charter schools is equivalent to denigrating and destroying the public school system. I grant you that your past experience may point you in that direction, but would it be possible, for a brief moment, to accept that fact that SOME supporters of charter schools are NOT your enemy and that they can be your friends in the process of improving the public school system?

I have no wish to argue with you regarding "creaming", "funding", "effectiveness measures" etc. I will leave the technical discussion to more knowledgeable experts. Thank you for your insights in this topic.
Andrew commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

The Case for Charter Schools, Part One

Having thought about your posts further, Caroline, I believe it may be worth stating up front that I am NOT speaking of a charter school model based on PAST experiences you may have with California, specifically those in your school districts. It appears to me that the experience soured your opinion on it.

I speak only of a charter school model as it is proposed, on paper, with all the limitations real, and yet to be defined. It is not fixed and unalterable. It is expected to change and evolve with experience and discoveries when more and more schools find different ways to innovate.

I hope this clarifies our differences in opinion, because I believe we fundamentally want what is best for ALL students, not just those with motivated parents, or those with advantages. And I believe artificial labels (of any ever kind) are counter-productive to the education of a student because each student is unique and has the potential to surprise everyone, when given the right environment, mentoring, and motivation to succeed. We can use labels for convenience as long as we are aware that these labels are highly statistical, inaccurate and useless when applied to individuals.